The cornerstone of the permanent headquarters of the United Nations in New York City was laid on October 24, 1949 during a special open-air General Assembly meeting.The ceremony, marking the fourth anniversary of the United Nations and was attended by U.S. President Harry S. Truman, who was the principal speaker. Copies of the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights were deposited in the cornerstone by Secretary-General Trygve Lie (shown above).